#73 Finally the quiet days?

---About 3 days later---

Yuichi was walking through the hallway inside the school, getting ready for his club activities since his classes already ended for the day.

Suddenly, Horikita joined next to him while glancing at him with her serious expression.

"Are you finally going to tell me today or do I have to ask you tomorrow again?" She asked.

It has been officially 3rd day she started asking him what exactly he did and why did he send her those messages.

"*sigh* You will never grow tired of this, are you? I already told you that I played on their emotions, with the information provided by Ichinose, I discovered that they are just doing dirty work for someone while they themselves are kinda stupid. I was aware that if their contact with that person was suddenly cut off, and they would have to make a very important decision that would involve their lives, they would obviously abandon their original plan. Obviously, I had a back-up plan in case they accepted it." Yuichi glanced around and said in low voice.

"What back-up plan? And what about those messages?!" Horikita asked with a bit irritated expression because this is the 3rd time she heard these same words.

"..." Yuichi stopped walking and Horikita naturally followed his example. He looked into her eyes and Horikita slightly raised her head while looking straight into his eyes.

*sigh* Yuichi just sighed and started to walk once again with Horikita right next to him. He couldn't even call her 'his tail' because she wasn't walking behind him but by his side.

"Does it matter what kind of back-up plan was it when everything already ended? I barely can remember what I had in mind at that time. And for the last time...I have no idea who sent you those messages, I have never given anyone your phone number but you have to take into account that there are much more people knowing your phone number right now. Maybe if it was previously, during the first few weeks of the school, I would have understood your suspicion. And don't you remember that I was the only one who had his phone on the desk and I have never touched it during the entire discussion." Yuichi finally said something more than during the last 3 days when Horikita kept asking the same thing.

"...Maybe it doesn't matter anymore but I am still curious and if you didn't send those messages then who? You think it was all just someone's stupid prank?" Horikita's stern tone eased down as she heard Yuichi finally say more than she already heard previously. She understood his reasons but it simply didn't feel like a big coincidence to her.

Yuichi just shook his head as if to say that he has no idea.

*sigh* "Why did you decide to suddenly tell me more? You held on for 3 days and it didn't look like I bothered you that much..." Horikita sighed and dropped the matter for the day and asked this instead.

"What is it? Did you actually like following me these past 3 days? I must admit that it doesn't look bad to be followed by a beautiful girl but it might also make me look bad as if I am ignoring you. Plus I wasn't withholding this "information" from you, I simply felt like there is no need to say it at all..." Yuichi said in a low voice and indifferent face.

"...Nevertheless you should-" Horikita was a bit surprised when she heard Yuichi call her beautiful so casually but she quickly recovered and asked with a bit softened expression. Although she was reluctant to admit, Horikita was still like any other girl. She liked compliments even though she didn't let it be seen on the surface which then led people to think of her as a cold person.

She wanted to say something to Yuichi but she stopped halfway when she noticed a student walking towards them. He had shoulder-length black hair and is entire frame was probably even bigger than Sudo's, however, his height was still lower than Yuichi's. He was wearing quite an ominous grin, relatively similar to Yuichi's smile when he had dealt with that clerk which made Yuichi frown down.

"That was quite an interesting strategy but I wonder what would have happened if your opponents weren't incompetent idiots. It seems like we aren't the only ones who play dirty, I just wonder who is the person who came up with that strategy and who is just a puppet. Nevertheless, your points in that message were quite accurate as if you witnessed everything, I wonder if your basketball friend here acted as your eyes." He said and it was unknown if he was talking mainly to Horikita or Yuichi but it was evident he was looking more at Horikita.

"Who are you?" Horikita frowned and asked him to introduce himself.

"Ryuen Kakeru, I presume" Yuichi said before the student in front of them could respond to Horikita.

"Oho?" Ryuen seemed a bit surprised that Yuichi knows his name already.

"Ichinose Honami" Yuichi said shortly, to answer Ryuen's question which caused him to chuckle and nod his head as he finally understood.

"You aren't that loyal person, despite the fact that person helped you, huh?"

"What do you mean?" Yuichi asked with a confused expression. He doesn't see any reason to agonize the student in front of him. He already took care of the earlier problem and helped Sudo to continue playing basketball with him but he never wanted to get involved in stuff where others target him specifically.

"...Heh, next time, I will be your opponent. I look forward to it." Ryuen spent a few seconds of observing Yuichi's expression before he chuckled aloud and said his part while looking at Horikita. He already heard everything that happened during the discussion and all he thought about Yuichi is that he is relatively smart and that was probably the sole reason why he attended that discussion. As for Horikita...There was undeniable evidence that this must have been her handiwork, the only thing that bothered him was where they have gotten all those photos. The only way he could possibly think of was that the person who witnessed the brawl followed Ishizaki's group or...Ichinose Honami. She is one of a few resourceful girls he was aware of.

Ryuen didn't wait for their response and simply walked past them, however, when he was still next to them, he took a last quick glance at Yuichi's face.

"What was that?" Horikita rolled her eyes and asked Yuichi once Ryuen was far enough not to hear anything.

"...The official declaration of war between classes. There have always been and always be tension between each class, however this time he wants to specifically target us. It's the same as if you had 4 kingdoms stationed next to each other, sharing borders with each other. Of course, they won't be happy with each other and there might be some small skirmishes but unless there is an official declaration of war, no one will invade the other."

"Guess I will be abandoning the ship in near future, Captain Horikita." Yuichi added with a speck of humor to ease the mood.

"Are you saying you will break your promise to help me get to Class A?" She asked with an oddly calm tone and expression which slightly surprised Yuichi.

"...I might do some things that you ask of me but I still don't see any reason why to strive for Class A so desperately." Yuichi looked at her face before he faintly smiled and started walking once again.

"You are the same as Ayanokoji." Horikita said, maybe trying to use this as an insult?

"We aren't the same at all. Anyway, I have my club activities, see you tomorrow." Yuichi turned his head towards Horikita and replied instantly with confidence in his voice before he made his way towards the gym.

Horikita just frowned down and stopped walking, watching Yuichi leave without attempting to stop him.

'...I wish you luck, Horikita. Now that I have seen this Ryuen with my own eyes, I can see that he will do whatever is necessary to come victorious. As long as he won't get physical, you can expect me to keep my distance.' Yuichi thought as he glanced from the corner of his eye back at Horikita.

-------

And as Yuichi hoped for, no one went to find trouble with him during the next few weeks. He spent his days usually playing basketball and studying for the final exam. He recommended Sudo to join Horikita's study group since his other 2 friends were there and he didn't really want to teach Sudo once again. When he had some free time, he spent it either by reading or hanging out with Mei. Sakura also started showing up without her glasses on, she remained quiet but when it came to the people she already knew, she could even turn talkative. Overall, she began interacting more with her classmates.

After enduring many tedious days of studying, the summer vacation finally arrived and so did their long-planned vacation on a luxurious cruise. However, instead of feeling happy, Yuichi actually felt quite irritated only because of one certain reason. When he actually asked Chabashira if everyone is obligated to participate, she said that everyone has to attend no matter what..."school's decision"

By then, he already knew that this school was once again planning something because there is no way they wouldn't be able to let a few students stay on the campus. Even students being more prone to motion sickness has to attend instead of staying on the ground which completely disappointed Yuichi.

He was pretty sure that even Chabashira discovered that he was already suspicious of this trip, judging just from her wishing him luck on this "vacation".